
ETH Zurich Develops SonoTextiles: Smart Fabric That “Hears” Your Movements
A research team at ETH Zurich has introduced a pioneering smart textile called SonoTextiles, which can detect motion, pressure, and even respiration using woven glass fibers and sound waves—without relying on traditional electronics.
How It Works:
The fabric integrates glass fibers that function as acoustic sensors. Ultrasonic transmitters and receivers placed at either end of the fibers detect how sound waves change when the fabric moves or is touched. These frequency shifts, processed with minimal computing power, provide accurate biodata, such as breathing rates or body movements.
Lightweight, Washable & Energy Efficient
Unlike most wearable tech, SonoTextiles are breathable, low-cost, easy to wash, and require very little energy, making them highly practical for everyday use.
Applications:
- Health Monitoring: Tracks breathing patterns in asthma patients or those with chronic respiratory issues.
- Sports & Fitness: Monitors athletes’ movements to improve performance and reduce injury risk.
- Posture Correction: Gives real-time feedback to correct body alignment.
- Mobility Support: Alerts wheelchair users when to shift positions to avoid pressure sores.
- Gesture Control: Smart gloves made from SonoTextiles can interpret hand gestures for use in AR or computer interfaces.
“Using ultrasonic frequencies far beyond human hearing, SonoTextiles can track subtle fabric movements,” explains Yingqiang Wan, lead author of the study published in Nature Electronics.
This breakthrough sets a new benchmark in the evolution of intelligent textiles—wearable tech that listens, senses, and responds.